Starting device for explosion-engines.



E. AQGARDNER. Y STARTING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE 23, T914.

1,203,528. I Patented oct. 31,1916.

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EDWIN ALLEN GARDNER, 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, DY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO EDWIN Gr. POHLMANN, 0F SAN `FRANCISCO, CALIFORIA.

STARTING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSION-ENGINES.

Speecation of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

Application led June 23, 1914. Serial No. 846,753.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDWIN A. GARDNER, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco, State of California. have invented a new and useful Starting Device for Explosion-Engines, of which the following is a speciiication in such full and clear terms as will enable those skilled inthe art to construct and use the same. f

This invention relates to a starting device for explosion engines and its object is to produce a starting device which will be incapable of giving to the person endeavoring to start the engine such ya shock as may injure the person due to a so-called backkick of the engine.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that explosion engines of the type used with automobiles are provided with means for advancing and retarding the time of sparking. This means is ordinarily set in the retarded position when the engine is sought to be started, but notwithstanding the usual precautions the engine. sometimes fires before it should resulting in a reverse rotation of the crank shaft. This reverse rotation of the crank shaft ordinarily gives the person endeavoring to start the engine a severe shock and often breaks an arm or wrist.

With this invention the engine shaft is incapable of reversing the direction of rotation of the crank and consequently if it res back it will not injure the person endeavoring to start the engine.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings in which the same reference numeral is applied to the same portion throughout. but I am aware that there are many modifications thereof.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the crank, Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the crank as it appears when attached to the engine shaft, Fig. 3 -is a rear elevation of a portion of the crank cut away for purposes of illustration, Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the position of the two springs when assembled together. Fig. 5 is a view of the large spring` Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the shell which holds the large spring from rotating reversely, Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation of the small spring, Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the cranking device showing a form used where it iS desired to use a detachable crank therewith, Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the' device shown in Fig. 8, and FigJlO is a side elevation of the crank arm used with the device shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

The numeral 1 represents dicating the handle and 3 that portion of the crank which rotates the crank shaft of the engine. The numeral 4 indicates a short stub shaft threaded at 5 and vhaving a flange 'at 6. The short stub shaft is reduced in size at 7 to receive the shell 3 of the crank,

and the crank is secured on the reduced port-ion 7 of the vstub shaft by means of a headed bolt 8, said bolt being riveted down at 9 to permanently secure the several portions of the crank .together.} It will be understood that the part 4 of the stub'shaft and the part 3 of the crank properfare of the same diameter and are surroundedxby a heavy spiral spring 10.

The spiral spring 10 is provided with a lug 114 on one end which projects into a hole in the shell 12. This shell is provided with a iange 13 and is .seated in an enlarged chamber in a shell 14 which surrounds the spring 10, and which bears against the crank arm 1 and within which said arm is capable of r0- tating. The shell 14 is provided with a lug 15 having a hole therein to enable the shell to be secured to some fixed part of the vehicle to prevent it from rotating. Surrounding the shell 12 'is a spring 16, said springbeing reversely wound to the spring 10 and having a lug 17 projecting through the shell 14.

The operation of the device is as follows: The direction of rotation of the crank is indicated by the arrow on Fig. 2 and when so rotated the spring 10 being slightly smaller than both members upon which it is placed will tend to tighten up and will draw on the stub shaft 4 with sufficient force to rotate it and the engine vshaft then connected therewith. However, should the engine shaft give a back-kick and attempt to rotate the crank in a reverse direction it can only do so by the connection afforded b v the spring 10. However, as soon as said stub shaft is made to reversely rotate thel spring 16 which is slightlv smaller than and coiled on the shell 1 2 will hold said shell and said shell in turn will hold the lug 11, so that it is impossible for the stub shaft 4 to tighten the spring 10, whereupon the engine .Shaft will rethe crank, Qinversely rotate with the stub shaft 4 but the crank will be immediately released.

.It will be understood that this crank is applied to the usual slidable clutch shaft used for starting the engine. It is to be obv served that the two springs act substantially front of the casing is the revoluble member 32 with which the crank 1, Fig. 1, is integral. In this form of the invention, however, this member is provided witlr two loops 33 and 34 through which a crank arm 35 having the handle 3G may be inserted when it is desired to start the engine. rllhis form ofthe invention has its interior construction precisely the same as the previous form of the invention, but is especially adapted for usewith engines having a selfstarter .where it is desired to carry the crank in the tool boX.

Having thus described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows, modifications within the scope of the claims being expressly reserved: e

1. A starting device for explosion engines comprising a stub shaft, a crank revoluble thereon, a spiral spring surrounding said stub shaft and a portion of said crank, a shell surrounding a portion of said spring and connected thereto, and a reversely wound spring surrounding said shell to hold the shell and the first spring from dangerous reverse rotation.

2. A starting device for explosion engines, comprising a stub shaft, a crank revoluble thereon, a spring for transmitting power from said crank to the stub shaft, a shell surrounding the spring and to which it is connected, a second reversely wound spring surrounding said shell, and a fixed shell to which said second spring is connected.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of June A. D. 19111, in the presence of the two subscribed witn nesses..

EDWlN ALLEN GARDNER. Witnesses:

HENRY B. Lrsfrnn, C. P. GRIFFIN. 

